Classification of precision of net effect estimate
| Pattern of net effect estimate | Classification | Precision of net effect estimate is consistent with … |
| Entire CI is beneficial | Net benefit | High certainty of net benefit |
| Point estimate is beneficial, lower bound of CI is harmful and point estimate has larger absolute value than lower bound of CI | Likely net benefit | Moderate certainty of net benefit |
| Point estimate is beneficial, lower bound of CI is harmful and point estimate has smaller absolute value than lower bound of CI | Possible net benefit | Low certainty of net benefit |
| Point estimate is close to zero, wide CI* | Possibly no net benefit or harm | Very low certainty of net benefit or harm |
| Point estimate is close to zero, narrow CI* | Net benefit or harm likely near zero | Moderate certainty of little net benefit or harm |
| Point estimate is harmful, upper bound of CI is beneficial and point estimate has smaller absolute value than upper bound of CI | Possible net harm | Low certainty of net harm |
| Point estimate is harmful, upper bound of CI is beneficial and point estimate has larger absolute value than upper bound of CI | Likely net harm | Moderate certainty of net harm |
| Entire CI is harmful | Net harm | High certainty of net harm |
↵*Differentiation of wide versus narrow CIs could be based on a threshold of minimally important differences.